SNN108482 - Historic Building Recording and Watching Brief: 39 Main Road, Duston, Northamptonshire

In August 2012 historic building recording was undertaken of a structure to the rear of 39 Main Road, Duston, prior to its demolition as part of a redevelopment of the site. Though now in a dilapidated condition, the single-storey building had been soundly constructed of coursed ironstone blocks set in lime mortar, and the survival of a row of joist holes in its rear wall indicated the former existence of an upper storey. No evidence was found to determine its original function; it is suggested that the ground floor was stables (its final use), possible with storage above. From cartographic evidence the building appears to have been constructed between 1722 and 1855. This date range was narrowed slightly by the discovery of the date 1851, inscribed into the south-western face of the building. According to evidence from its former owner the building must have reached its present truncated form by the mid-20th century, when the present timber cladding was applied. During the development, which comprised construction of a detached bungalow, a watching brief was maintained on groundworks. The site is in the historic core of Duston, and is close to the probable alignment of a Roman road linking the Roman settlement of Duston with Watling Street at Whilton Lodge. Observation of ground reduction and the excavation of footing trenches and a soakaway revealed only undisturbed natural soils below topsoil, and no finds, even of relatively modern date.